Holiday crowds return to Beach Road bars, where pool tables, smiles, and simple chats keep the vibe alive. (Photo by Jetsada Homklin) PATTAYA, Thailand — As the long holiday weekend brought a surge of Thai and foreign tourists to Pattaya’s iconic beachfront, one thing remained constant: the quiet comfort of conversation and cold beer at the city’s legendary bar strips. “Talking with the girls at the bar is part of the Pattaya experience,” said a German tourist in his 60s, as he sipped a large beer with two friends at a well-known beachside bar. “It’s not about anything wild — it’s about company, feeling welcome, and not drinking alone.” Pattaya’s bar culture, long a defining trait of the seaside city, still hums with energy even in the so-called low season. With recent relaxations allowing alcohol sales on Buddhist holidays in designated entertainment zones, the city’s night economy got a fresh boost. On Beach Road and beyond, stools filled quickly, pool balls clacked on tables, and laughter carried through the humid night air. “We’ve been coming here for years,” the German regular added. “Same bar, same spot. The faces change, but the feeling stays the same. It’s friendly, relaxed, and familiar — that’s why we keep coming back.” Local operators say that while nightlife often gets caricatured, most evenings revolve around casual drinking, easy conversation, and the warm atmosphere that draws travelers back again and again. The girls behind the bar, many of whom know their regulars by name, are as much a part of the city’s hospitality as the beach and beer itself. As Pattaya continues balancing its image between family tourism and its adult-centric nightlife, for many long-time visitors, it’s the honest, simple human connection that keeps them coming — one beer, and one chat, at a time.